120 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN CANAL ANGLING. 



must Know that the jack and pike lie in waiting for 

 their food with their heads and eyes pointing up the 

 stream, to catch what may be coming down ; therefore 

 experienced trollers fish a river down, or obliquely 

 across; but the inconsiderate as frequently troll against 

 the stream, which is improper, because they then draw 

 their baited hook behind either jack or pike when it 

 is stationary, instead of bringing it before his eyes or 

 mouth to tempt." 



"When the pike cometh," says Colonel Venables, 

 " you may see the water move, at least you may feel 

 him ; then slack your line and give him length enough 

 to run away to his hole, whither he will go directly, 

 and there pouch it, ever beginning (as you may 

 observe) with the head, swallowing that first. Thus 

 let him lye untill you see the line move in the water, 

 and then you may certainly conclude he hath pouched 

 your bait and rangeth about for more ; then with your 

 trowl wind up your line till you think you have it 

 almost straight, then with a smart jerk hook him, and 

 make your pleasure to your content." 



Spinning for Pike. 



A clever writer who signs " Titus " in Blackwood's 

 Magazine, says, f( you may spin if you please instead 

 of trolling ; and, where you have a wide water, not 

 more than six or eight feet deep, and a great extent, 

 so that the fish do not haunt particular little spots, but 

 rove abroad, especially towards mid-day, spin by ail 

 means; it is the most killing style of fishing in the 

 world. Here, again, you use the dead-bait, but not 



